Kentucky begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses with no delay

PADUCAH, KY (KFVS) -
Same-sex couples in Kentucky won't have to play the waiting game for marriage licenses.

Governor Steve Beshear gave the order for clerks to start issuing marriage licenses on Friday, June 26.

Folks at the McCracken Co., Ky. Courthouse had the stack of marriage licenses hot off the press about an hour after hearing of the Supreme Court ruling, but nobody's gotten one yet as of Friday night.

McCracken Co Deputy Clerk Lyne Dickey said she answered a lot of questions about the licenses the morning of the ruling, but when the courthouse closed that day, nobody had come in to fill one out.

In the grand scheme of things, Dicky said she doesn't expect marriages of any kind to spike after the decision, at least not all that much.

“I don't think it's going to be like all of the sudden we're going to be doing this a lot.” Dicky explained, “I think it's going to be about the same as it would be before the ruling was made.”

While many Paducah residents still disagree on who should or shouldn't get married in a general sense, many walking around the streets of Paducah on Friday say change is usually met with controversy.

“It'll be rough at first, but I think that eventually people will realize that, it is what it is,” explained Paducah resident Candice Champion as she walked out of a grocery store with her boyfriend on Friday.

“You should have the right to be with whomever you want to be with.”

Fellow resident Elliott Tyler was a few rows over in the parking lot, and said he maintains a more traditional view.

“Myself, I don't think it's right,” Tyler explained, “because the bible says that the same sex shouldn't get married… but you're not going to be happy about everything, so some things you just have to let go.”

The only difference on the form itself which will be used for all marriage applicants in KY is the shift from “Bride” and “Groom” to “First Party” and “Second Party” in all instances on the form where they appear.

You can view an example to the left.

Dickey also said the process is no different either; both parties must be present and once approved, the marriage must be conducted within 30 days.